Am I Missing Something?

This is supposed to be one of the easiest problems from BdMO 2014. But I can't seem to find a rigorous way of solving this problem. Am I missing something?

$x$ , $a$ , $b$ are positive numbers such that if $a>b$ , $f(a)>f(b)$ and $f(f(x))=x^2+2$ . What is the value of $f(3)$ ?

This also happens to be my first note!

Thanks!

#Functions #HelpMe! #Math #BdMO

Easy Math Editor

This discussion board is a place to discuss our Daily Challenges and the math and science related to those challenges. Explanations are more than just a solution — they should explain the steps and thinking strategies that you used to obtain the solution. Comments should further the discussion of math and science.

When posting on Brilliant:

Use the emojis to react to an explanation, whether you're congratulating a job well done , or just really confused .
Ask specific questions about the challenge or the steps in somebody's explanation. Well-posed questions can add a lot to the discussion, but posting "I don't understand!" doesn't help anyone.
Try to contribute something new to the discussion, whether it is an extension, generalization or other idea related to the challenge.
Stay on topic — we're all here to learn more about math and science, not to hear about your favorite get-rich-quick scheme or current world events.

Markdown	Appears as
`italics` or `_italics_`	italics
`bold` or `__bold__`	bold
- bulleted - list	bulleted list
1. numbered 2. list	numbered list
Note: you must add a full line of space before and after lists for them to show up correctly
paragraph 1 paragraph 2	paragraph 1 paragraph 2
`[example link](https://brilliant.org)`	example link
`> This is a quote`	This is a quote
# I indented these lines # 4 spaces, and now they show # up as a code block. print "hello world"	# I indented these lines # 4 spaces, and now they show # up as a code block. print "hello world"

Math	Appears as
Remember to wrap math in `$` ... `$` or `\[` ... `\]` to ensure proper formatting.
`2 \times 3`	$2 \times 3$
`2^{34}`	$2^{34}$
`a_{i-1}`	$a_{i-1}$
`\frac{2}{3}`	$\frac{2}{3}$
`\sqrt{2}`	$\sqrt{2}$
`\sum_{i=1}^3`	$\sum_{i=1}^3$
`\sin \theta`	$\sin \theta$
`\boxed{123}`	$\boxed{123}$

Comments

$f(f(1))=3$ => $f(1)=$ $1$ or $2$ or $3$ . Easy investigation gives

$f(1) =2$ .

$f(f(1))= f(2)= 3$ .

$f(f(2))=f(3)= 2^2 +2 =6$ .

Fatin Farhan - 7 years, 4 months ago

I think you ought to prove $f(n)>n$ for this

Alessio Di Lorenzo - 7 years, 4 months ago

If $f(1)= 1$ then $f(f(1))= f(1) = 1$ . But $f(f(1))=3$ If $f(1)=3$ then $f(f(1))=f(3) = 3$ So, $f(f(3)) = f(3)= 3$ But $f(f(3))=11$

So, $f(1)=2$ .

Fatin Farhan - 7 years, 4 months ago

I don't understand with your solving.. f(1)=f(2)=1/2/3=3/2=3.. am i wrong to understand??

Hafizh Ahsan Permana - 7 years, 4 months ago

Sorry. I was saying $f(1)=$ 1 or 2 or 3.

Fatin Farhan - 7 years, 4 months ago

@Fatin Farhan – And how you conclude that f(1)=1or2or3?? and than continue to f(1)=2? sorry i just learned this..

Hafizh Ahsan Permana - 7 years, 4 months ago

Congrats on your first note Siam! It was a good one.

Peter Taylor Staff - 7 years, 4 months ago

Math	Appears as
Remember to wrap math in `\(` ... `\)` or `\[` ... `\]` to ensure proper formatting.
`2 \times 3`	$2 \times 3$
`2^{34}`	$2^{34}$
`a_{i-1}`	$a_{i-1}$
`\frac{2}{3}`	$\frac{2}{3}$
`\sqrt{2}`	$\sqrt{2}$
`\sum_{i=1}^3`	$\sum_{i=1}^3$
`\sin \theta`	$\sin \theta$
`\boxed{123}`	$\boxed{123}$